Jr. Horatio Alger

“ I should like to become a great actor, and make piles of money. Then he might be proud of me."
Leslie's face flushed and his voice trembled, he was so carried away by the thought of becoming a dramatic star.
"You said you had twelve dollars?" remarked Rupert, by way of bringing him back to solid ground.
"Yes; but I have spent four dollars, though I have tried to be economical. I pay seventy-five cents a day for my room, and that counts up."
"Yes, so it does. If you were going to stop long in the city I think I could get a room for you at two dollars a week." ”

“ Rupert stepped forward and with tender sympathy strove to raise his poor mother from her position of despondency.
"What is the matter, mother?" he asked. "Are you not well?"
"Yes, Rupert," she answered, raising her head, "but for the moment I felt discouraged. [Pg 6] Grace has been suffering more than usual to-day. Sickness and poverty, too, are hard to bear."
"That is true, mother," and Rupert's heart sank as he remembered that by the end of the week the poverty would become destitution.
"Grace has been unable to eat anything to-day. ”

“ Mrs. Marlow took the matches, but did not go. She sank into a chair and grew social.
"And how is the times affectin' you, Mrs. Rollins?" she asked.
"Rupert is out of employment. All he has to depend upon are odd jobs."
Mrs. Marlow darted a curious glance at the bureau drawer in which her neighbor had deposited the purse.
"It don't make so much difference as long as a body has got money to fall back upon," she said.
"That is not my condition."
"I'm sorry for it. I surmised you might have money ahead. You're better off than I am, for I have no boy to work for me." ”

“ Spenser, when a child is needed in any of my plays, I may get the chance for your Sophie."
"Oh, Mr. Waters, how kind you are. Do you really think Sophie could act?"
"Yes, if I should train her. You know not very much is expected of a child."
"I should feel so proud to see my little girl on the stage. Did you ever see Elsie Leslie act?"
"Yes, she is very clever. I only wish she were old enough, and would consent to take the part of Pauline. She would be far better than Ida Strassburger." ”

“ You are a poor boy, you know."
"Look here, Julian, there's one thing I don't understand. Your father and mine were partners, and I supposed in the same circumstances. Both failed together. Yet your father now has a large store of his own, and we are poor. Can you tell me why?"
"I'm not good at conundrums. I'll have to be going. If you want a place as cash boy I'll ask pa to fit you out. Ta ta!" And Julian dashed off on his wheel.
"I hope some time to be a successful and honorable man of business," thought Rupert, as he followed his former schoolfellow with his glance. ”

“ Richard Darke was with him.
Clarence Clayton started to his feet in dismay. He recognized the detective at once.
"Sit down, Mr. Clayton," said Darke, smoothly. "I see you have been doing a stroke of business with my friend, Mr. Onthank."
Clayton did not speak. He did not know what to say.
"Let me see the paper, Mr. Onthank."
The farmer handed it to the detective, who read it aloud slowly.
"You agree to give his son a situation in your Wall Street office? By the way, where is the office?" and the detective bent a penetrating glance on the face of the adventurer. ”

“ Lorimer knew that he was poor, had a family, and was therefore in his power. He told him to choose between five dollars a week and dismissal."
"That is like Lorimer. He has the reputation of being the meanest man in the business. How did you become acquainted with the man you recommend?"
Rupert told the story, and both Sylvester and Maxwell were interested.
"I suppose you don't know Mr. Lorimer?" said Maxwell.
"I know him only too well," answered Rupert. "He was my father's partner in Buffalo, and was the cause of his ruin and death."
"Was the firm name 'Rollins & Lorimer?'" asked Maxwell. ”

“ I am what is called a rich man. I am unmarried, but after the way you have treated me, you can judge what chances you have of being remembered in my will."
"It is all a mistake, Cousin Giles," said Eben, in a conciliatory tone. "I'll pay the money, and I hope you and Uncle John will do me the favor of staying at my house while you are in Rochester."
Giles Packard smiled grimly.
"We shall start for New York to-morrow," he said, "and it won't be advisable for us to [Pg 346] leave the hotel. I shall leave the note in Mr. Nettleton's hands, and I will give you a month in which to pay it." ”

“ Leslie showed this letter to Rupert.
"Your father doesn't suspect that you came to the city intending to go on the stage?" he said.
"No, he thinks I have given up my ambition to become an actor. He has no idea what a glorious profession it is. I don't suppose he ever went to the theatre in his life. I wish he could see Edwin Booth, or Irving, or Joseph Jefferson. Yet I suppose he would rather have me keep a hotel than become as great as either of these."
"It takes a smart man to keep a hotel, Leslie. Very likely Booth or Irving wouldn't succeed in that line." ”

“ The detective, as he left the reading room, passed Rupert, who was just entering.
"Let me see," he said, tapping Rupert on the shoulder, "you are the bell-boy who came near being murdered by a crank?"
"Yes, sir."
"You escaped very cleverly. You are evidently a sharp boy. Keep your eyes open, don't you?"
"Yes, sir; except when I'm asleep."
"We detectives have to keep our eyes open all the time, but we can't be everywhere at once. ”

“ Two days later Giles Packard sought out Rupert during an interval of the bell-boy's labors.
"How is the little boy?" asked the cattleman.
"He is well, and he seems to be happy. He thinks his father is away on a journey."
"The journey we must all take some time," said Packard, gravely. "Then you won't accept my help towards paying for the child's maintenance?"
"It won't be necessary, Mr. Packard. I am to pay only three dollars a week for his board."
"His clothing will cost something."
"Mrs. Benton will manage that. She says it won't cost over fifty dollars a year." ”

“ About ten o'clock in the forenoon Clarence Clayton entered the Somerset Hotel and looked about for the Orange County farmer. Clayton was clean shaved, his shoes were brilliantly polished, and there was a rose in his buttonhole.
"My dear old friend," he said, with effusion, as he espied Josiah Onthank sitting near the door, "I hope you are feeling in the best of health this fine morning."
"Thank you, Mr. Clayton. I feel pooty smart. Why, you're all dressed up. You look as if you'd just come out of a bandbox."
"Men in my position have to be particular about their appearance. ”

“ On Saturday Rupert received his last week's wages at the store.
"I am awfully sorry you are going, Rupert," said Harry Bacon. "It is a shame you are discharged."
"No, it is not a shame. It is only because business is dull that I have to go. I can't blame the firm." ”

“ Rupert found that in this new life he always had a good appetite for breakfast—more, even, than for their other meals. He had never had so good an appetite at the Somerset House, though the cook at that establishment was probably superior to Ben Boone in his chosen line. ”

“ Plympton?" inquired Rupert.
"No better than in Rochester. Why is it that no one is willing to employ an old man? I am in good bodily health, and I can do as good work as I ever could, but no one will have me."
"Chicago seems to be a city of young men—more so than New York."
"Have you noticed that? Some of the successful business men are men young enough to be my sons."
"I understand you to say that you wished to go to Denver. Have you any reason to think you will succeed any better there?"
"No, but I have a nephew somewhere in Colorado, and perhaps in Denver. ”

“ The sum was not large, but Rupert was pleased to think that he would earn something.
"Well," said his mother, when at five o'clock he entered the room. "Have you found a place?"
"No, mother, places seem to be scarce. Still, I have earned something."
She looked at him inquiringly.
"It isn't much—only twenty-five cents. I received it for going on an errand."
"It is better than nothing."
"Yes, it will buy our supper."
Two days more passed. They were equally barren of results. It was nearing the end of the week, and except the silver quarter Rupert had earned nothing. ”

“ Julian frowned slightly. It was all very well for him to say "Rollins," but he expected Rupert to say "Mr. Lorimer."
"I haven't seen you for some time," he said. "Are you still a bell-boy?"
"No."
"Got sacked, eh?"
"I sacked myself."
[Pg 357]
"What are you doing, then?"
"Going to a commercial school."
Julian looked surprised.
"Who pays your expenses if you are earning nothing?"
"I pay my own bills, thank you."
"It's very foolish for you to give up work. You will spend all your money, and what will you do then?"
"Perhaps apply to your father for a situation," said Rupert, smiling. ”

“ As it might prove to be a serious mistake he went to the clerk and inquired, "Has Mr. Drayton got a nephew stopping here?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
"I am afraid I have made a blunder. At the door of No. 58 I met a young man who told me he was Mr. Drayton's nephew, and asked me to hand him the bundle."
"Did he come down stairs?"
"No, he went into the room."
"I didn't think you could be so easily imposed upon, Rupert. The man is undoubtedly an adventurer. Describe him."
Rupert did so.
"He had been sitting in the office for half an hour. He must have seen the tailor's boy bring in the bundle." ”

“ Mrs. Marlow was of a covetous disposition, and not overburdened with principle. When she saw Mrs. Rollins drop a purse into her bureau drawer, she immediately began to consider how she could manage to appropriate it. It was necessary to get into the room when the widow was out, but unfortunately for her plans, Mrs. Rollins seldom left her daughter.
"Why can't she go out and get a bit of amusement like other folks?" she muttered.
Presently Mrs. Marlow had a bright idea. If the widow could suspect that some accident had happened to Rupert her absence could be secured. ”

“ Malcolm," said Sylvester to a pleasant-looking man of thirty-five, who stood behind a counter, "this is the young man I mentioned to you. He will be glad to fill the position of bell-boy, and from my acquaintance with him I feel quite sure he will suit you. His name is Rupert Rollins."
The clerk smiled pleasantly.
"We shall soon know each other better," he said. "I hope you are strong, for you will have a good deal of exercise here." ”

“ Congratulate me, Rupert! I have at last realized my ambition and am to become an actor. I have been engaged to play a part in the comedy of 'Fireflies.' You won't get any idea of the piece from the title. My part is a very good one. I am to represent a Broadway swell. I can't give you any idea of the plot, but I hope some time you may be able to see it played. Of course I have resigned my position as a bell-boy. We start on the road on Monday, opening at Albany, and going thence to Buffalo. ”

“ If I treat you as Eben Jackson did, may I lose my property and become a pauper."
"You are sure you can afford to do this, Giles? You have accumulated some property?"
"Well," answered Giles, smiling, "I am not a millionaire, but I think perhaps I might realize seventy-five thousand dollars if I should take account of stock. I have been very successful in gathering property, but I have had a great many lonely hours."
[Pg 274]
"Don't you need a bookkeeper?" asked the old man, eagerly.
"Yes, I can find you something to do in your own line, Uncle John. ”